Assistant Buyer

The Assistant Buyer supports the Buyer in the smooth and commercial delivery of the Ben Sherman product range to drive profitable sales growth. This role supports the management of the process to ensure that the collections, once designed are appropriately priced and that they are effectively produced to the quality expectations of the Ben Sherman customer, and in line with dept and business expectations.

• Complete and issue costing packs as requested by the buyer and follow up with suppliers.
• Assist the buyer with range building including style confirmation, colours, and product development for all seasonal ranges.
• Attend fit meetings with the buyer and QA and assist in completing buying comments for all samples received. In the Buyers absence chair the meeting. Post meeting liaising with suppliers to ensure actions are to be completed.
• Review lab dips, bulk fabric and trim approval submissions and present to buyer for final review and approval.
• Assisting the Buyer in all aspects of the product development process.
• Book in all departments post and process outgoing post. Ensuring full records are kept
• Assist with seasonal tech packs for cross costing and production
• Assist with setting up the branding packs, packaging guides and care label templates and checking artwork from suppliers.
• Manage the daily admin for the department’s critical paths. Logging approvals, chasing suppliers, and contributing to weekly critical path meetings under the support and guidance of manager/s
• Loading products on our inhouse system ready for POs
• Assist with project work when required
• Assist with the sample sales when required

• Relevant skills working within a buying office - buying cycle, critical paths and sample management
• Proactive and uses initiative
• Ability to produce and edit CAD documents – Ideally to have experience of Illustrator and In Design
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Strong communication skills over the phone, in writing and face-to-face
• Very strong house-keeping and organisational skills
• Time Management skills - Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Self-motivated
• Team player - ability to manage working relationships at all levels and be hands on supporting the department to achieve strategies and budgets
• Understanding of the clothing industry & trading environments. Broad knowledge of either retail or wholesale environments
• Keen follower of the menswear market & trends

• Ideally to have a design, buying, fashion or textiles degree
• At least 18 months experience working as a Buyers Admin Assistant- ideally in a related category.